Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-04-26
CAN'T CONTROL THEM.
The Waterways of the Continent
are Free.
No One Corporation can MonOpOlize
Them---Capt John b. Davis Recalls
an Interesting OccurreBce---E Effect
Ofthe Interstate Commerce Law
Other River News.

| and advantages of the water courses of
this continent will be more fully
realized, No one corporation can
control the river transportation. Every
body is at liberty to 60 in and compete
for trade, and for this reason there can
be no monopolies."
The speaker was the veteran
steam 0stman. Capt. John B. Davis.
who will master the Diamond 10 steamer
Josephine the coming season. He was
addressing an ARGUS representative, and
his remarks were made in response to an
inquiry as to what in his opinion would
be the probable effect of the inter state
commerce law on river navigation, and
would prove beneficial, he made the
statement quoted.
There was an attempt made once to
control river business" continued the
captain, land it proved an utter and com
plete failure After or ab5ut the close
of the war. Capt 10 Brown and Capt.
Burlington, of st. Louis, both exper-
fenced river men. formulated a scheme
to control all steamboat stock between
st. Louis and New Orleans. They sue
ceeded in getting nearly all the principal
lines of boats into the company, and
formed the Atlantic and Mississippi steam
ship company, with Il capital stock Of 50, y
$50, 900. and thus they proposed to control
and manage not only all Mississippi traf-
| iic below st. Louis, but the water trans
portation to New York City as well
Accordingly, after all the plans had ma
tured. the gentlemen | speak of went on
p special mission to New York, where
they interviewed Commodore Vanderbilt,
requesting him to put on q line of steam,
boats from New York to New Orleans,
assuring him that 10 that way the water
intercourse between the metropolis of the
nation and the city of St. Louis could be
controlled. The commodore listened at
fennvely until the plans had all been
laid before him, and then he asked:
Does the corporation in which you
gentlemen are interested own the track
from ST Louis to New Orleans2'
No was the reply, but we can con
troll it.
We'll. then go home, and when you
| own that track come back TO NE. and |
viii put on the finest line of steamships
between New York and New Orleans
that you ever saw
The commodore with his shrewdness
could readily foresee that there was no
such thing as controlling the free water
ways of this country. But the company.
In less than four years from that time it
broke up, and not only was every cent of
the immense capital invested sunk, but
many thousands of dollars besides"
Il recall this incident to show that the
steamboats, are not hampered in their
business, and that when the laws OF the
nation give them half show, they will
show an advantage in the water courses,
as to transportation and commerce"
| RIVER RIPLETs.
The river is still rising
The Josephine will be out next Satur-
day. Capt. Davis of thisscity will COM
mand her
The Josie. the baby" OF the Diamond
10 line, Capt. Kelly passed down yester
day with two barges.
The Mary Morton. the race horse of
the upper Mississippi. Capt Conger. will
be down at noon tomorrow
The clipper St. Paul of the White Col
lar line, Capt. Burke, went north this
morning bright and early, bound for the
city of her name.
The flagship Pittsburg. Capt KilIeen,
will land at this port Wednesday night
or Thursday morning on her way to St
Paul.
The government lighthouse steamer
Ivy, went up the river this morning She
will replace all beacon lights between
here aud the head of navigation.
A committee of Moline business men
called on Capt. Lamont and Rapids Pilot
Hight of the Diamond 10 line this morn>
ing. and laid before them petition from
the business men of Moline requesting
the boats of the 10 line to land there the
coming season.
The Verne Swain has enjoyed the dis
tinction of being one of the fastest boats
on the upper river ever since she first
made her debut last summer. She had a
little race with the LILY Turner the other
day and came out ahead, but the Verne
must, it is feared, succumb to the new
boat being built for McCaffrey and long
at Saltwater. This boat is to have two
engines, each the size of the one the
| Swain carries. There will he some ex-